Spinning disk toy



Aug. 6, 1968 M. SARRO SPINNING DISK TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1965 Michele Sarro INVENTOR.

6, 1958 M. SARRO 3,395,482

SPINNING DISK TOY Filed July 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 28 Fig 2 30 32 50 Fig 5 E Michele .Sarro t 43 IN VENTOR.

y 1 BY M United States Patent SPINNING DISK TOY Michele Sarro, 143 Grove St., Brooklyn, NY. 11221 Filed July 1, 1965, Ser. No. 468,752

Claims. (Cl. 4647) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy wherein a disk is mounted for longitudinal movement along a spiral shaft in a manner whereby a rotational movement of the disk is produced, normally resulting in actual flying of the disk from the shaft. The movement of the disk along the shaft can be either in response to gravity or effected through a booster member incorporating a bearing mounted stem which tends to substantially eliminate any frictional drag between the booster and the disk.

The present invention generally relates to new and ueful improvements in toys of the type wherein a disk is either moved, or allowed to move, along an elongated shaft having a spiral path along the length thereof.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a spinning disk toy which, through the use of various accessories, can be utilized as an indoor device wherein a spinning member descends a spiral shaft at a controlled rate of descent with the rotation of the member on the spiral shaft effecting a simultaneous outward movement of various objects engaged to the rotating member through the elongated flexible means, thereby providing a secondary amusement feature.

Another highly significant object of the instant invention is the provision of a device which can be utilized as an outdoor toy wherein the spinning disk or member is actually forceably discharged from the end of a shaft so as to 'sail through the air.

In conjunction with the preceding object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide, as an accessory adaptable to the basic unit, a disk booster which is uniquely adapted to effect a high speed rotational discharge of the disk-like member, this booster incorporating friction reducing means at the point of engagementwith the disk so as to insure the maximum speed.

Furthermore, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a top which is' easily converted for either'indoor or outdoor use, requiring only minor changes in thebasic unit and the use thereof.

Also, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a toy the use of which will provide a source of entertainment for both young and old, the use of the toy as an indoor amusement device being contemplated for smaller children, and the use of the device as an outdoor toy being contemplated for older children and adults.

Basically, the instant invention consists of an elongated substantially rigid shaft having a spiral path therealong, gripping handle permanently affixed to one end of the shaft, and a bladed disk received over said shaft and mounted thereon in a manner so as to require a rotation of the disk during longitudinal movement along the shaft. In addition, the toy of the instant invention also incorporates various significant accessories which can be se1ectively used so as to adapt the toy for either indoor or outdoor use. For example, a disk booster is provided for mounting on the shaft below the rotatable disk so as to effect a forced spinning discharge of the disk from the shaft, this booster incorporating friction reducing means so as to effectively remove any resistance to the full speed rotation of the disk. In order to utilize the toy as a tationary indoor amusement device, an enlarged pedestal ice is provided for receiving the handle of the shaft in a manner so as to maintain the shaft vertically. At the same time, a second handle is provided for releasable engagement with the upper end of the shaft, and various elements are engaged with the disk through elongated flexible cords or chains, these-elements, upon rotation of the disk effected by a downward movement of the disk along the rod, rising and moving outwardly through centrifugal force.

These together with other objects and advantages which become subsequently apparent residue in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to said parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of the instant invention utilized as an indoor toy;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the toy of FIGURE 1 with portions broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device of the instant invention utilized as an outdoor toy;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 5-5 in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of spinning disk wherein three blades are provided;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detailed view of one manner of releasably engaging the flying elements to the spinning disk; and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional detail of the bearing mount for the booster stem.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, it will be noted that, regardless of how the device of the instant invention is to be utilized, at least three basic members are utilized, the elongated substantially rigid shaft 10, the enlarged gripping handle 12 permanently fixed to one end of the shaft, and the spinning disk or disk-like member 14.

The shaft 10 is formed of at least twospirally wound rods 16 so as to define spiral convolutions along the full length of the shaft 10 from the first end portion 18 thereof which is rigidly afiixed within the elongated gripping handle 12. The upper end portion 20 of the shaft 10 is smooth and without any projections, thereby allowing for a free discharge of the spinning disk 14 in a manner which shall be described presently. The handle 12, preferably provided with a cylindrical body, presents a fiat forward abutment face 22.

With regard to the spinning disk or disk-like member 14, it will be noted that this member 14 consists of three or more propeller shaped and inclined blades 24 integrally formed with and diverging outwardly from a circular central plate 26 upon which a suitable hub structure 28 is mounted. This hub structure 28 includes upper and lower projecting portions 30 fixed to the upper and lower faces of the central plate 26 and presenting flat or slightly convex outer faces 32, these faces 32 having generally oblong openings 34 therein which in effect correspond to the cross-section of the shaft 10. In actuality, when considering a shaft composed of two spirally wound rods 16, this opening 34 will be in the shape of a figure 8. By shaping the upper and lower openings 34 so as to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the shaft 10, it will be appreciated that movement of the disk 14 along the shaft 10 will result in a rotation spinning of the disk. Incidentally, it will of course be appreciated that. were the shaft 10 to be formed of three or more spirally wound rods 16, the openings 34 would have to be modified accordingly.

Also, if so desired, the shaft conforming opening need be provided in only one of the hub portions 30 with the other hub portion having an opening therein sufficiently large so as to be completely out of engagement with the shaft, the rotation of the disk thereby being effected solely through the one shaft shaped opening.

The disk-like member 14 additionally includes an ananular flat ring 36 encircling the blades 24 and fixed to the outer ends or tips thereof, this encircling ring 36 having a plurality of rigid eyes 38 fixed thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom at peripherally spaced points thereabout. With reference to FIGURES l, 2 and 7, it will be appreciated that these eyes 38 are to releasably mount, through conventional spring loaded catches 40 and elongated flexible cords or chains 42, small elements 44 which may be in the form of bells, toy vehicles, dolls, etc.

When using the device of the instant invention as in effect a fixed amusement device, such as would be preferable indoors, an enlarged stepped pedestal or base 46 is provided, this base 46 having a planar bottom and a centrally located socket 48 in the upper end thereof, this socket 48 being of a size so as to snugly receive the cylindrical handle 12 in a manner so as to maintain the shaft vertically. The disk 14 is positioned on the shaft 10, and a second handle 50 is releasably secured to the upper end of the shaft 10, for example by being threaded onto the spirally shaped shaft 10. In actual use, the disk 14, preferably suspending the various elements 44, is positioned at the upper end of the shaft adjacent the corresponding handle, either 12 or 50, and is then allowed to fall along the shaft 10 toward the base 46, this falling of the disk 14, through the spiral path on the shaft 10, resulting in a spinning of the disk 14 the rotational speed of which progressively increases. Further, as will be appreciated from the phantom line illustrated in FIGURE 1, the spinning of the disk 14 results in an outward and upward lifting of the elements 44, this diverging of the cord or chain mounted elements 44 varying with the rotational speed of the disk 14, which in turn terminates upon engagement of the lower hub portion with the fiat abutment face 22 on the handles, such an abutment face 22 also of course being provided on the handle 50. After the disk 14 has reached its lower end of travel, it can be quickly positioned for a subsequent trip by either completely inverting the shaft 10, or by merely grasping the disk 14 and allowing the shaft 10 to quickly spiral its way therethrough. In either case, the manipulation of the device is extremely simple, with this, in conjunction with the presentation of the illusion of flying toy, i.e., elements 44, making use of the device as suggested in FIGURE I particularly adaptable for and enjoyable to, small children.

The same basic structure utilized in the specific device of FIGURE 1, can also quickly be adapted so as to provide a highly mobile toy more specifically adapted for outdoor use by older children or adults. This is achieved by merely removing the upper removable handle 50 and the elements 44 from the disk 14, and providing a booster 52 on the shaft 10 between the fixed handle 12 and the disk 14. This booster 52, as will be best appreciated from FIGURES S and 8, consists of an elongated hollow pipelike body 54 which is freely received about the shaft 10 for longitudinal movement therealong without the aforementioned spinning noted in conjunction with the disk 14. The pipe-like body 54 includes an enlarged gripping lower portion 56 and an annular shield 58 immediately thereabove so as to maintain the hand of the user of the device remote from the spinning disk 14. Projecting coaxially from the upped end of the booster body 54 is an elongated stem 60, also freely receiving the shaft 10 therethrough. The upper end of the stem 60 is to engage directly against the lower face 32 of the disk hub 28 so as to e ect the movement of the disk 14 along the shaft 10. The lower end of the stem 60 is received within a bearing unit 62 which enables this shaft to freely rotate in a substantially friction free manner whereby only an extremely small frictional resistance is developed to the rotation of the disk 14, thereby enabling one to obtain the maximum rotational and longitudinal speed, contrary, to that which would be obtained were the disk engaging portion of the booster 52 to be fixed against rotation with the disk 14. FIGURE 8 illustrates one manner of rotatably mounting the stem 60, this being effected by the confining of ball bearings 64 between a steam mounted annular race 66 and an outer race 68, suitable upper and lower seals 70 also being provided. The entire bearing unit 62 can be confined within a suitable cap 72 threaded on the upper end of the booster body 54 which will be provided with external threads 74 for such purpose.

With reference to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the use of the device as an outdoor amusement toy involves effecting a rapid upward movement of the disk 14 on the shaft 10 through a gripping of the booster 52 and an upward movement thereof against the disk 14. This upward movement of the disk 14 on the shaft 10 of course results in a rapid spinning of the disk and a subsequent flying of the disk off the end of the shaft, the particular shape and inclination of the blades being such so as to insure a maximum lift to the disk 14.

Incidentally, while not illustrated in conjunction therewith, it should be appreciated that the booster 52 can be utilized as a handy means for moving the disk 14 upwardly on the shaft 10 when using the device as suggested in FIGURES 1 and 2. This would involve, after a raising of the disk 14, merely quickly returning, or in fact letting fall, the booster to the bottom of the shaft, this being possible without interfering with the downward movement of the disk 14 due to the relatively slower movement of the disk 14 resulting from rotation of the disk 14 which must be effected for it to move along the shaft 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A spinning toy comprising a straight elongated shaft defining spiral convolutions, handle means fixed on one end of said shaft, a disk-like member, said member having a central hub, said hub defining a guide opening receiving said shaft therethrough, said guide opening conforming to the shaft convolutions whereby a rotation of the member results from a movement of the member along said shaft, and a booster means independent of said member positionable on said shaft between said handle and said member, said booster means being freely slidable longitudinally along said shaft in a manner so as to simultaneously effect a movement of the member therebefore along a spirial path on said shaft for spinning projection of the member therefrom independent of the booster means, said booster means including a body and a stern for engagement with the member center hub about the opening defined therein so as to transfer movement of the booster to the member, bearing means rotatably securing said stem to said body for rotation of said stem with said member relative to said body.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein the bearing means is a ball bearing unit providing a generally friction-free movement between said stem and said body.

3. The toy of claim 1 including a second handle means releasably mountable on the second end of the shaft.

4. The toy of claim 3 including an enlarged base, said base having a handle means receiving socket therein for effecting a vertical positioning of the shaft.

5. The toy of claim 4 including a plurality of small toy-like elements, and elongated flexible means fixed at 5 6 one end to each element and selectively fixed at the other 991,138 5/ 1911 Coe 4685 end to the disk-like member. 2,628,094 2/1953 Matrejek 46-47 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 498,874 5/1930 Germany. S 3 12:2; LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

938,417 10/ 1909 Essig 4647 S. NAITER, Assistant Examiner. 

